Unusual Mortality Events with Andrew Lewis - a podcast by Wax Radio
from 2023-04-03T13:54:48
On December 14th, 2022, images of surfers in the rockaways trying to help push a juvenile sperm whale back into the water made the rounds on social media and eventually the news. This would be the beginning of what is being called an āUnusual Mortality Eventā for this winter for whales along the east coast.
In all, around 23 whales have washed ashore along the East Coast since December. There has been much speculation as to what is causing these deaths. Everything from container ships to wind farms have been thrown around. We wanted to bring on to the show to discuss these whale strandings and get a better understanding as to what is happening to that population along the east coast.
Our guest is journalist Andrew Lewis, who has been covering this story for New Jersey Spotlight News and is a writer for The New York Times Magazine. Andrew was a former editor at Surfing Magazine and has written for numerous publications over the years and wrote a book called The Drowning of Money Island, a story about a community left behind in the wake of a devastating hurricane. His writing tends to explore stories that inhabit the narrow corners where water and humans collide. Andrew is our guest and Iām excited to welcome him to the show.
For more information on Andrew Lewis and his work you can go to: www.andrewslewis.com
Here are some articles and resources that we found helpful in researching for this episode:
- https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2023/01/nj-whale-deaths-prompt-questions/
- https://nammco.no/humpback-whale/#:~:text=Estimates%20indicate%20that%20there%20are,whales%20in%20the%20North%20Atlantic.
- https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-life-distress/2016-2023-humpback-whale-unusual-mortality-event-along-atlantic-coast
- https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/documents/renewable-energy/state-activities/OCW01_COP%20Volume%20I_20220614.pdf
- https://oceanwindone.com/about-the-project
- https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/28/nyregion/east-coast-whale-deaths.html
- https://www.panynj.gov/port-authority/en/press-room/press-release-archives/2022-press-releases1/port-authority-reports-facility-volumes-for-december-and-full-ye.html
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Music:
Opening Song: Ocean
Artist: Matti Bye
Album: Classical Crossover
Closing Song: Oceans
Artist: Pearl Jam
Album: Ten
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